Profiling machine



April 3, 1951 C. M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 23, 1944" E f W 5 m w WM April 3, 1951 c. M. SKINNER PROFILINGMACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 Emma tom April 3, 1951 c.M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. M.SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE April 3, 1951 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 12Sheets-Sheet 4 k M m\\ C. M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE April's, 1951 12Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1944 April 1951 y c. M. SKINNER 2,547,670

PROFILING MACHINE Filed Aug 25, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 i. %WblfM9Jm WApril 3, 1951 c. M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 FiledAug. 23, 1944 A A" mQg i C. M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE April 3, 195112 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 Z w 6 x n H .0 a 5 4 m wwm 2 2ww 392 9 z 7 e. z a w- April 3, 1951 c. M. SKINNER 2,547,670

PRDFILING MACHINE I I z 742 I M Ma April 3, 1951 c. M. SKINNER PROFILINGMACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 L April 3, 1951 c. M.SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 23, 1944 April3, 1951 c. M. SKINNER PROFILING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug.23, 1944 Patented Apr. 3,1951

UNETED STATE PRO-FILING MACHINE- poration of Delaware Application August23, 1944, Serial Nr550795 20 Claims. 1

This invention relation relates to machine tools and more particularlyto an automatic machine tool for profiling propeller blades for aircraftfrom a work blank thereof, material being removed from the blank by acutting tool. in accordanc with a master model of the blade.

Solid propeller blades, whether made of. wood, plastics, or metalpresent certain advantages over the hollow types built up from formedsheet material. These solid blades are machines from work blanks.aluminum alloy forgings being extensively used, and with recentdevelopments in plastic bonding materials, blades shaped from laminatedwood blanks are again coming into use. Because of the limitations ofavailable machine tools, however, a great amount of hand work hasheretofore been necessary to correctly shape these solid blades.

Today the great majority of aircraft propellers are made with detachableblades carried by a separate hub, and in the manufacture of blades forsuch propellers itis highly important that all blades for a given designand horsepower be made exactly alike in order that when a blade in theassembly is replaced with a new one, the new blade will exactly matchthe others. This is es ecially important in propellers ofthe socalledconstant speed type. Propeller blades must present an absolutely smoothsurface, and in production, it is highly desirable that the machiningoperation produce, as nearly as possible, the finished surface of theblade to eliminate lengthy and tedious hand finishing operations.

Various machines have heretofore been proposed for automaticallymachining propeller blades to required shape but'these machines have forthe most part been mere adaptations of usual profiling tools and do nottake into consideration all of the problems involved in propellermanufacture. Chief among these problems is the precision necessary foraccurate reproduction of the blades. This precision may only be obtainedby vibrationless operation of the machine, both in the cutter operationand feed and also in the work feed. In shaping wooden bladesparticularly, a high cutter speed devoid of vibration is necessary.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention toprovide a machine for automatically reproducing propeller blades inwhich the optimum in rigidity and vibrationless opera- 7 tion isobtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatically operatedmachine for shaping propeller blades which will substantially finish theblade without removal from the machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the abovecharacter which is fully adjustable in the speed and amount of workfeed, depth of cut, and fully adjustable for producing blades ofdifferent lengths.

Still another object is to provide a machine for shaping propeller ladesin which the work is moved in reciprocating motion with respect to arotary tool which is fed transversely with respect to thework inaccordance with a model or pattern of the blade to be formed, and inwhich the work and model pattern are rigidly held during the cuttingfeed strokes and simultaneously indexed about their axes at the end ofthe cutting strokes.

This invention also has as an object to provide a machine of the abovecharacter employing opposed cutting tools operating on opposite; sidesof the work and which has both manual and automatic means'for moving thetools out of engagement with thework.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a machine of" theabovecharacter in which the sil elilng mechanism and one tool maybe rendeiedinoperative to shape thetwist of the blade face.

A still further object is to provide a lock-in, lock-out electricalcontrol for automatically indexing the work whereby indexing is effectedonly at proper times and prevented at other times.-

Among the objects of this inventionis to' pro' vide an automaticallyreversible reciprocating work feed for theabove' type mechanism in whichthe feed stroke is gradually slowed down toward the emiof the stroke andgradually accelerated at the beginning of the return stroke to preventthe vibration normally caused by reversing the stroke, and in which thelength and speed ofthe feed stroke are easily and accurately regulated.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a work feed whichoperates against a back pressure to provide for steady vibrationlessfeed of the work.

An additional object of the invention isto provide a machine tool of thecharacter mentioned in the preceding objects in which the work axis ispositioned close to the machine bed and in which the cutting tool, modelor pattern follower and driving motor are aunit movable on ways in theplane of the work axis, with the cutter extending equidistant above andbelow its ways and work. axis.

Another'of the. many objectsof this invention is to provide an automatictool of this type with adequate and efiicient bearings, bothrotationaland sliding, adequate and eflicient ways, efiicient and accurate chucksand centers and an efficient system of chip collection and removal.

With these and other objects in View, which may be incident to myimprovements, the invention consists in the procedural steps and theparts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with theunderstanding that the order of operations and the several necessaryelements comprising my invention may be varied in construction,proportions and arrangements, without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleffect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications tothe particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, havebeen made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the propeller profiling machinemade in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detailed elevational view of one of the cutter carriagelock-out latches and its associated parts, showing a fragment of thecutter carriages in locked-out position.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5of Figure 2, showing the head stock in elevation.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6fi of Figure 5.looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 'i'lof Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Figure7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line |0-lfl ofFigure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmental elevational view, partly broken away, of theheadstock, illustrating a part of the indexing mechanism.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line l2-|2 ofFigure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a fragmental elevational view showing the indexing motorstarting switch and its operating mechanism.

Figure 14 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the tail stock.

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line l5l5 ofFigure 14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken on the line lG-l6 of Figure14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tail stock work centerspindle, partly broken away, showing one form of center therein.

Figure 18 is an end view of the spindle shown in Figure 17, butillustrating a different form of center.

Figure 19 is an elevational view of one of the 4 cutter carriages andits associated bed, taken substantially along the line I9-i9 of Figure3.

Figure 20 is a detailed sectional view of one of the cutter carriagesupporting roller mechanisms.

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 2l2l of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 2222 of Figure 20.

Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken away, ofone ofthe cutters and its associated spindle and bearing mechanisms.

Figure 24 is a cross sectional view taken alon the line 2324 of Figure23.

Figure 25 is a similar view taken along the line 2525 of Figure 23.

Figure 26 is a cross sectional view taken alon the line 26-26 of Figure23.

Figure 27 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 21-41of Figure 19.

Figure 28 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line28-28 of Figure 27, showing the construction of one of the modelfollower rolls.

Figure 29 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 29-29- ofFigure 3.

Figure 30 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic control forthe work table feed.

Figure 31 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric indexing controlcircuit.

The machine according to this invention is adapted to movesimultaneously the work or blade blank to be machined and a pattern ormodel of the propeller blade in reciprocating feed strokeslongitudinally of the axis of the work, and to index or rotate the workand model simultaneously through a predetermined are about their axes atthe end of each reciprocating stroke. During the longitudinal feedstrokes, material is removed from the work by either one or both of apair of opposed rotary cutting tools movable transversely of the path ofmovement of the work and controlled by the configuration of the model.

An important feature of the machine is its smooth, vibrationlessoperation brought about by the rigid construction of the machine and theweight of the work and tool supports, and also by the work feed itself,which operates at all times against a slight back pressure and which isslowed down as the feed is reversed. The work feed and indexing andcutter profiling movements are fully automatic, providing, however, formanual adjustments and operations where necessary and desired, and iscapable of producing a substantially finished blade, with the exceptionof the tip, in a single set-up of the machine.

The basic machine While the several parts and their cooperationalrelationships will be described in detail later in this specification,the machine comprises, essentially, an elongated bed supportinglongitudinal ways on which is mounted a reciprocably movable tablecarrying, adjacent opposite ends thereof, a headstock and a tailstock.The headstock is provided with a pair of superposed, parallel spindles,each provided with a chuck, the lower of which is adapted to hold theshank end of the blade pattern or model above referred to. The tailstockis provided with a pair of centers which are axially aligned with theheadstock spindles and are adapted to support respectively the tip endof the blank and model. The headstock also carries mechanism forsimultaneously indexing the blank and model, either automatically, bymovement of the table, or manually if desired.

The reciprocating work feed is preferably hydrauli lemploying. acylinder attached to the bed and a. piston operatively connected. withthe table. The fluid is admitted alternately to opposite ends, ofthecylinder, against. a constant back pressure therein, by a. reversing,valve controlled either automatically by movement of the table, ormanually. The fluid flow. is alsoautomatically controlled. to. slowdownthetable movement prior to, reversing.

Theimachineemploys apair of opposed cutting tools, each, of which arejournalled in a cutter carriage, adapted. to roll transversely to thepath of the work feed on tracks aligned on opposite sides off the bed.Each carriage is movable independently of the other, being normallyurged toward the work, and having its inward movement limited by theengagement with the blade pattern or model, of a follower roll which maybeadjusted laterally with. respect to the cutter to thereby govern thedepth of cut made by the tool. Each carriage likewise carries a motorfor dtiving the cutter, and chip shields and ducts which register with acommon chip discharging duct, extending beneath the carriages andmachine bed. Provision. is made for moving either or both. carriagesoutwardly away from the work and, latching them in this inoperativeposition. This may be done manually and, in addition, automaticmeans'are provided in the form of a cam carried by the tailstoclrsandcooperating withthe'. follower. rolls to. move the carriages outwardlyso that the cutters will clear the tailstoclnwhen the table is moved tothe end of the ways for loading the machine.

All of the controls for operation and adjustmentof the machine. arearranged to bereadily accessibleto the operator from one side of themachine,

Thiamachine bed, table and hydraulic feed As-best. seen. in Figures. 1,2 and 3, the machine bed, I. isof elongated construction consisting, ofa pair, of. parallel vertical side plates 2 and 3 joined'together attheir endsand at intervals of their. lengthbyweb pieces or cross platest which are secured. at their vertical edges. to the. inner facessofthe, side plates, preferably by welding. Theupper. edges of the crossplates i are cut away inv the form. of a flat bottom V to provide athrough space. for the hydraulic feed mechanism tor be described. later.the bed I. is a flange strip 5', by means of which the bed may besecuredv to the floor, while secured to, the upper. edge of each sideplate are strips 6 which constitute ways. for a table I. The strips 6..are finished with perfectly. flat and parallel upper andlower surfaces,and. with the outer edge of one perfectly parallelwith the outer edge ofthe oppositeway.

Aligned on opposite sides of the bed 5', substantially intermediate itslength, are a pair of rectangular lateral extensions 8 and a which arerigidly secured respectively to the outer face of the side plates 2 and3 and provided on their free vertical edges with flanges l6. Boltedrespectively. to the flanges IQ of each of the extensions 3 and 9' areflanges I! provided on left and right (as seen in Figure 3) cutterstands respectively designated generally as if and i3. Each of thestands l2 and :3 are of similar construction, except that they are madefor positions on the left and right of the machine.

These stands are of box construction, preferably being built up ofwelded steel plates to provide a rigid structure and comprise T-shapedend plates M which extend verticallyabove the ways Surrounding the baseof acmcrro 6. with the'horizontal portionof the. T extending laterallyoverthe Ways with enough clearance to permit passage thereunder of the:table I", as shown in Figure 3. Front and back plates. IE and it aresecured between the end plates Hiand are bifurcated at their upper ends.Secured to the bottom of the bifurcations are horizontal plates ll,which with plates l8 attached to the inner edges of the. bifurcationsand extending the length of, the end plates M form troughs l9 whichextendtransversely of the bed I.

Gonnecting the upper edges of the end plates E4- and the; sides It! of.the trough are. top strips 23 to which, at the inner edges of, thetrough Is, are welded parallel rail members 2| which are rabbeted. alongtheir facing upper edges. Into these rabbets are secured, preferably bybolting at each end of. the rails 2i, a hardened track piece 22, whoseupper surfaces all liein a horizontal plane which substantiallyintersects the axis of the work as shown in Figures 1 and 3, The bottomedges of the stands 52 and i3 are pro,- vided with a flange 23 forsecuring the stands to the floor. The stands I2 and I3 each carry forrolling movements on the tracks 22 transversely of theways 6, opposedcutter heads designated generally as 24 and 25, supporting opposedcutting tools 25 and 2! respectively.

The table 8 is preferably machined from cast iron, rectangular. andsufficiently long to support Work of the maximum length between a head'-stocl: 28 and a tailstock 29 mounted thereon. It is finished with aperfectly fiat upper face and slide surfaces, onits lower face foraccurately engaging, thev upper and outer side surfaces of the ways 6.The table may be held on the ways 6 by gibs la secured to thelongitudinal edges of the table, at opposite ends thereof, and engagingthe lower, overhanging faces of the ways. The headstock. 28% is.fixedlysecured to the table while provisionis made for adjusting the tailstocklongitudinally along the table, as will'be subsequently more fully setforth, to adapt the machine for blades of different length.

The table 1 reciprocates longitudinally along the ways ii, and, asstated above, preferably is hydraulically operated by the controlledaction.

of fluid pressure on opposite sides of a piston 38 operating in ahydraulic cylinder 31. The cylinder 3'! extends through the V cutouts ofthe cross plates l and'isattached at its head and rod ends respectivelyto shelves 32 and 33 provided therefor and secured to the cross plates 4adjacent the bottom of the v cutouts. The

. piston rod 3' 3 has its free end attached to a depending earpiece 35rigidly secured to the far end (with respect to the piston) of, thetable.

Communicating respectively with opposite ends of the cylinder 3| arefluid lines 36 and 3''? which extend therefrom to the operators side ofthe machine (the near side as viewed in Figure 1), run parallel with thebed and connect with a reversing valve,- designated generally as 38,attached to the bed side plate 2. Also connecting with the valve 38 is asupply line39, which connects with a fluid pump (not shown), and anexhaust line Ml for returning fluid to its storage supply (also notshown). Any suitable means for suppiying fluidunder pressure, and at acontrollable volume to-the cylinder 3|, may be employed, but a rotaryvariable displacement pump of high speed, multiplunger type is preferredas this type apparatus can be accurately and easily controlled toprovide a wide range of steady feeds for the table.

The reversing valve 38 is preferably hydraulically actuated by a 4-waypilot valve 45 affixed to the bed side plate 2 just below the edge ofthe table 7 and equipped with an operating lever 42 provided with aleftwardly projecting lug 53 and a rightwardly projecting lug M. Securedto the edge of the table I is an extension e having a downwardlyprojecting end or dog 45 which is positioned in fixed relationship tothe headstock and adapted, when the table moves to the left (as viewedin Figure l) to engage the leftwardly projecting lug 43 and move thelever 32 in a counter-clockwise direction and reverse the table movementwhen the cutting tools engage the shank end of the blade blank. Alsosecured to the edge of the table is a slide ll which carries, forvertical movement therein, a second dog 48. This last dog is displacedlaterally outward somewhat from the dog 46 (see Figure 2) so that itwill clear the leftwardly projecting lug 33 of the lever 42 but willengage the rightwardly project-- ing lug 14 to rock the lever clockwisewhen the table 7 moves to the right hand end of its stroke.

The position of the dog 45 on the table '5 is fixed since the positionof the head stock, which holds the shank of the blade blank, is fixed onthe table. The machine, as set forth, however, is capable of performingon blades of different lengths by adjusting the position of thetailstock 29 on the table. Provision is made, therefore, for adjustingthe position of the dog 38 with respect to the dog 46 to lengthen orshorten the table travel. Any suitable means may be employed, such as aseries of definitely spaced bolt holes in the table edge by means ofwhich the slide 4'! may be secured in different positions along thelength of the table. The dog 48 may also beraised in its slide so thatit will clear the lug M of the reversing lever and permit further travelof the table to the right to a loading position where thetailstockcenters clear the cutter heads, as will be set forth later.

Preferably, the reversing valve 38 is of a slide er piston type,hydraulically actuated through the pilot valve ll to admit fluid toeither end of the hydraulic cylinder 3% and exhaust the fluid from theopposite end. As stated above, the table is constantly moved against aback pressure and its movement is retarded at ie end of each stroke justprior to reversing. draulic control system for obtaining these resultsis disclosed in Figure where the parts are shown diagrammatically, asmany commercial valves will be found suitable.

The valve 3.3, as illustrated, may comprise a casing or cylinder t9,closed at both ends, and is provided with connected inlet ports 56 and55, which communicate with the fluid supply line 39, an exhaust port 52connecting with the discharge line and a pair of ports 53 and 54 whichconnect respectively with the lines and 3'! leading to the ends of thehydraulic cylinder 3|. Slidably mounted within the cylinder is a plug orpiston E5 suitably grooved to connect the supply line 39 and the exhaustline 48 respectively with the lines 36 and 3'! when the piston 55 is atone end of the valve cylinder, and to connect the supply line with theline El and the line 33 with the exhaust when it is at the opposite endof the cylinder.

Connecting opposite ends of the valve cylinder at with opposed ports or"the four-way pilot valve 4! are lines 56 and 5'5, while a third line 58and a fourth line 59, respectively connect the supply pipe 39 with theinlet port of the pilot valve and the exhaust port with the fluid returnline id. The valve 4i may be, as shown, provided with a rotary plug asactuated by the lever 52 to connect either end of the reversing valvecylinder 39 with the pressure line 58 and the opposite end with theexhaust line 59.

As stated above, provision is made whereby the table is moved constantlyagainst a back pressure of the hydraulic fluid and also for slowing downits movement at the end of each stroke just prior to reversing. Thefirst of these effects is accomplished by means of a twoway valve 8!positioned in each of the lines 36 and 31. These valves are in eiTectcheck valves which open fully to permit a full flow of fluid to the highpressure side of the cylinder 31 and only partially open to retard theflow of fluid from the low pressure end, to thereby create a backpressure on the low pressure side of the hydraulic piston.

The table movement is slowed down at the end of each stroke by two wayvalves 62 and 63 positioned respectively in the lines 36 and 31. Theplugs 84 of these valves move vertically in the valve casing, beingmaintained normally in up (open) positions by a compression spring 65.The plugs are provided with a transverse here, which normally permits afull flow of the hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 3i but, when depressed,will restrict the flow and thereby slow down the movement of the pistonThe plugs 54 are each provided with an upwardly extending stem whichterminates in a head or cam follower 66.

Fixedly secured to the tailstock end of the edge of the table '5 is acam 61 having an inclined rise surface 68 and a horizontal dwell surface69. This cam is adapted to engage the follower 66 of the valve 63 and isso positioned with respect to the reversing dog 46 that it will start todepress the valve plug 64 just before the dog 16 first contacts the lug43 of the reversing lever 42, By the time the dog 43 engages the lug t2.the rise 68 of the cam will have depressed the valve plug to partiallyclose the valve. Preferably, the amount of the cam rise is such thatwhen the follower reaches the flat dwell, the valve will just becracked. It is to be noted that this valve closing will be gradual andthe movement of the table will be gradually slowed down. During thecontinued slow movement of the table to the left, the lever 42 will berocked, the reversing valve 38 actuated and the return stroke of thetable begun. This return movement starts slowly and is graduallyaccelerated as the follower of the valve plug rides again over the rise68 of the cam resulting in a smooth vibrationless reversing movement.

At the opposite end of the table is a cam 10 adapted to cooperate withthe valve 62. The position of cam 76 bears a definite relationship withthe reversing dog 8 and means similar to that for locating the slide 4'!carrying the dog may be provided for changing the position of this camon the edge of the table with changes in position of the dog 48. The cam10 is provided with a rise ll, similar to the rise of the cam 6i andserves a similar purpose, that is, to gradually depress the plug of thevalve 62 before the dog 48 rocks the reversing lever 42. The dwell 12 ofthe cam 10, however, is extended and terminates in a second and moreabrupt rise 73. The length of the flat dwell i2 is such that, when thedog 38 is raised to clear the reversing lever, the table 7 will continueto travel slowly to the right until the tail stock centers clear thecutter heads, at which time the second rise 13 will fully close thevalve 12 to stop the table movement. The lever 42 is then manuallyrocked to its other position preparatory to the return stroke of thetable, which may be started by pushing the table to the left the shortdistance necessary to again crack the valve 62. In lieu of this methodof restarting table movement, a valve controlled line bypassing thevalve 52 may .be provided.

The headstock and tailstoclc Reference is now made to Figures to .2which illustrate in some detail the headstock 28 and its associated,mechanism for supporting and rotat- 'ing the blade blank and model orpattern about their longitudinal axes. The headstock 28 comp-rises asubsLantially rectangular base it to which is secured an upstandingframe #5 consisting of a front plate I6, rear plate Ti, and side platesi8 and, i9, rigidly joined together, and to the base 14, preferably bywelding. The headstock is fixedly secured to the upper surface of thetable 1 adjacent one end thereof by bolts 89 passing through the base I4and into the table and is longitudinally aligned on the table by keys 8I, secured in grooves therefor in the lower surface of the base, andfitting in a keyway 82 extending longitudinally the full length of thetable, centrally between the edges and accurately aligned in parallelismwith the ways 6.

Passing transversel through the front and rear plates I6 and T5 in thelower part of the frame I5 is a cylindrica sleeve 83 secured to theplates '18 and I9 in accurate alignment with the keys EI. Passingaxially through the sleeve 83 and journalled for free rotation in ballbearings 84 set in opposite ends of the sleeve, is a spindle 85. Formedon one end of the spindle 85 "(the end facing the tailstock 25) is aflangelifi while the opposite end is formed into a diametrically reducedextension '81 having a furtherreduced, screw threaded end 88.

Above the sleeve 83 and secured to the upper end of the frame 75,parallel with the sleeve 83, is a similar sleeve 89 provided at QppOSlJGends with ball bearings GI! in which is journalled a spindle 9|. Thisspindle is likewise provided on I a screw threaded end 94. The bearings85 and 99 have deep grooved races so that the bearings may take bothradial and thrust loads. sleeves 83 and 89 are each provided at theirends with flexible oil seals designated generally as 95.

Secured to the flange 92 of the upper spindle 9i, by circumferentiallyspaced bolts 95, is the flanged end 91 of a socket chuck 98 having asocket 99, axially aligned with the spindle, and provided with a flatinner end I99 and a longitudinal keyway IIlI. This chuck is for holdingthe shank end of the master model or blade pattern P, the shank of whichis machined to .'close 1y fit the socket being keyed therein bya key I92carried by the shank and fitting withinr'the key- Way IN. The end of themodel shank is faced off squarely and abuts the flat inner end I09 ofthe socket.

The lower spindle 85 carries an axiall aligned work chuck designatedgenerally as I93 for hold-- 'ing the shank end of the work or bladeblank W, and provided with a circular mounting flange I04 attached tothe flange 85 b means of bolts The . l0 I115. The flange I94 is providedwith a concentric, internally threaded :socket I95 having a centralcircular depression I-ill therein axially aligned with the spindle.

. The chuck I03 is ofadraw up collet type fitted with a. split colletI08 machined internally to correspond with the shank of a finishedblade. In the type illustrated, the collet is for a blade of the kindadapted to screw thread into its hub and the collet is provided with a'blindbore I99 having internal threads H0 adjacent its inner end tocorrespond with the internal threads of the hub socket into which theblade will fit. The forward or jaw portion II I of the collet is boredto the diameterof the blade shank and has a tapered external peripheralsurface I I2. The back of the collet is the same diameter as thedepression I91 into which it fits and is secured by countersunk screws II3.

A closing collar H4 surrounds the collet and is providedwith an internaltaper I I5 corresponding to the taper of the collet. The collar H3 isprovided at its inner end with an external flange II6 which is engagedby a draw in ring Ill, is threaded externally and screw into thethreaded socket I06. For different types of blades, obviously differentcollets will be provided. Aclamping chuck also serves effectively forsupporting the blade and pattern in fixed relation to the spindles 85"and 9|. Any type of chuck found suitable under the Working conditionsmay be used.

In order 'to rotate the spindles 85 and BI in synchronism for"simultaneously indexing the work and pat-tern, the ends 8! and 93 haverespectively :keyed thereon identical spur gears H8 and H9, .both ofwhich :mesh with an idle gear I20. -The :idle gear I20 is mounted forrotation on ball bearings iI2.I carried on .a stud I22 aihxe'd to a'slidejp'late I23. The plate I23-is .ad'jnstably secured, by countersunkcap screws I24 passing through somewhat elongated apertures 125 in theplate I23, to a plate 126 which is inset below the rear face of the backframe "plate Tl. This construction provides a cross slide for the idlegear I20 permitting lateral "adjustment of this gear toward and awayfrom the gears .I I8 and H9. 7 Movement of the slide plate I23 closer tothe vertical center line of the ars H8 and H9 will bring the idle gearI20 into closer mesh therewith and eliminate backlash in the gears whenmotion is transmitted from the lower to the upper spindle, .and therotation of the two spindles and 9| will be perfectly synchronized. Oneor more apertures I2! may be provided through the gear II! for access tothe holding screws I24.

For rotating the spindles, there is keyed to the extension 81 of thework spindle 85 a worm gear I28 adapted to mesh with a worm I29 carriedon a shaft I39 which extends transversely of the headstock. The shaftI39 is journalled in a pair of bearings I3I supported respectively inblocks I32 positioned at each end ofthe worm, antifriction thrustcollars I33 being provided between the ends of the worm I35 and ihebearings I 31 to eliminate end play of theshaft. The bearing blocks I32are secured to the upper surface of one arm I34 of an L-shaped :bracketI35 (Figure 8.), the other arm I36 of which extends parallel to the bedof the machine and is hinged, as indicated at I31, to *a support 138.bolted to the bed i at the side of the headstock. Side; plates and a.top plate, slotted for the wornr' 'gear, are respectively attached tothe sides and tops of the bearof a right angl speed reduction unit I41.speed reducer is mounted at the angle of the L shaped bracket I35 andhas its driven shaft Hi8 ing blocks I32 and form therewith, and with thebracket I35, a lubricant case for the worm gearing, as seen in Figures 6and '7.

By referring to Figures '7 and 8 it will be noted that the bracket I35is positioned at the rear and on one side of the headstock frame IS withthe axis of the hinge I3! extending longitudinally of the machine bedpermitting the worm I23 to be swung toward and away from the worm wheelI28. The worm I29 may be held'in engagement with, or disengaged from itsgear I28 by means of a rocker shaft I39 extending under the bracket armI34 adjacent the free end thereof, and pro vided with a cam I IO whichengages the under surface of the bracket. The shaft his is journalled inparallel sides I-il of a support I42, the sides Id! extending upwardlyto engage opposite edges of the bracket arm I34 to serve as a guidetherefor.

The worm shaft I36 is adapted'to be driven either manually orautomatically. 'For manual operation a hand wheel I43 is provided on theend of the shaft which extends to the operators side of the machine. Forautomatic operation,

'the opposite end of the shaft has keyed thereto a sliding gear I ldwhich is adapted to mesh with a matinggear I45 carried on the drivenshaft 5:26 This end with a handle I53 by means of which the rod may bemoved longitudinally to engage or disengage th gears I44 and I55. Manualrotary adjustment of the work may be desirable at times during theoperation of the machine and this simple mechanism provides means foreasily disconnecting the automatic indexing mechanism for manualrotation of the spindles 85 and 9 I.

It is also desirable when performing certain operations on the blade,such as will be set forth later in the description, to permit freerotation of the work and pattern, that is, independently of the indexingmechanism. This is accomplished by manipulation of a finger engaginglever I54 secured to the outer end of the shaft I39 and by means ofwhich the shaft may be rocked and the cam I40 rotated. With the parts inthe position shown in Figures '7 and 9, the major axis of the cam I4!)is normal to thebracket and the worm is meshed with the worm gear. Thisposition of the cam is maintained by the engagement of the lever E3 lwith one of the two pins I55 on opposite sides of the shaft I39. Whenthe lever is moved until it engages the opposite pin, the minor axis ofthe cam will be normal to the bracket, the

weight of the arm I 3? and its supported structure rocking the bracketabout its hinge and disen gaging the worm from the gear I28.

Enclosing the above described gearing is a case or housing I56 securedto the headstock.

Secured to th end of the spindle 85 is an indexing plate designatedgenerally as IE2, and which will be described in more detail in thefollowing section of this specification which deals with the workindexing. This plate is fitted over a short, reduced extension of' thehub of thechuck worm gear 28, drawn up against the hub by a washer andnut I53, and additionally secured to the hub to prevent relativerotation therewith, by a cap screw ids. The nut I58, screwed onto theextension 33 of the spindle, also serves, in cooperation with thebearings 8d and suitable spacing sleeves I55, to eliminate end play ofthe spindle. In a like manner a nut I'5I eliminates end play of theupper spindle 9|.

The tailstock 29 is best illustrated in Figures l l to l? and comprisesa rectangular flat base plate Hi2 which carries a rigid, vertical standI63 preferably built up, in the manner of the head stock 25, of a frontplate I64, a back plate I55, and sid plates I55 welded thereto. Inaddition, to add rigidityto the member, an intermediate vertical plateIt? is also welded to the side plates. The stand IE3 is welded to thebase plate and suitably braced thereon by angle plates such as shown atH58. I

The tailstock is secured to the table '7 for longitudinal adjustmentthereon, by means of bolts 569 passing through the base plate and engaging a pair of T-shaped gibs IIIl slidably fitted within parallel Tslots Ill in the upper surface of the table and extending longitudinallyfrom the tailstock end thereof. The tailstock is longitudinally alignedwith the headstock 24' by keys I12 carried in aligned grooves I'I3therefor and fitted within the keyway 82 in the table. By loosening thebolts I59, the tailstock may be moved longitudinally along the table tovary the distanc between it and the headstock for the accommodation ofblades of different lengths.

Secured to the stand I53, and passing therethrough in axial alignmentwith the headstock spindle 85, is a cylindrical sleeve I'I I carrying aconcentric quill I75, the rear extremity of which is provided withexternal screw threads I75. The quill has an axial through bore Ill eachend of which is fitted with a ball bearing I'IS journalling a spindleH9. The spindle is held againstend play in the quill I'IE between ashoulder I89 engaging the inner race of the forward bearing I18 and anut and washer assembly I8I fitted on the-rear extremity of the spindleand engaging the inner race of the rear bearing.

The spindle I79 is also provided with a concentric, axial through boreI82 which is tapered in its forward end to receive the tapered shank I83of a center I84 which is adapted to support the tip end of the bladeblank W held by the I83. This tailstock center may be of various types,depending on the material supported thereby, but a cup, or female centersuch as that shown in Figure 17 has been found satisfactory for use withwood, metal or plastic work. If desired, a draw-in rod I36 may be usedwith the centers. Such a rod is shown in Figure 17 extending through thebore I82, threaded at one end into the center, and provided on itsopposite end with a nut I8? which engages the end of the'spindle. Thisrod also serves as a knockout rod for the center.

For adjusting the quill I'I5 longitudinally in the sleeve I It thethreaded portion I16 of the quill has threaded thereon a gear 588 whichmeshes with a second gear I89 carried on one end of a shaft I99. Thisshaft is journalled in a sleeve ISI, extending through the stand I63below the sleeve I74 and parallel therewith. The opposite end of theshaft I99 is provided with a hand wheel I92. Placing the hand wheelthus, at the front end of the tailstock, makes it more easily accessibleto the operator when the table '13 is moved to the loading position (seeFigure l).

The gears I 88 and 189 are contained within a gear box I93, aflixed tothe rear plate Q55, and provided with a removable cover 1%. As showninFigure 14,'the sleeves lid and 59'! extend into the gear box and thegears I88 and it are held against axial displacement between the ends:of the sleeves and the cover of the gear box.

For locking the quill lie in adjusted position, two axially aligned,opposed plugs E95 are slidablyfitted in a transverse aperture [95 in theupper portion of the forwardly projecting end of the sleeve I'M. Theedges of adjacent ends of each plug are machined with an arcuate face19] .(see Figure 16), for engaging the outer surface of the quill, andare adapted to be drawn together to clamp the quill therebetween by abolt 198 passing through one plug and having a screw threaded engagementwith the other.

The tailstock center for the blade pattern 1-? i is preferably a 60 malecenter such as shown at 199 in Figure .14 and is provided with a taperedshank fitting a similarly tapered socket 255 in the forward end of thethrough bore 29% of a quill vZEFZ. The quill 202 is slidably carried ina sleeve 203 secured to the upper end of the tailstock, in axialalignment with the headstock spindle 9!. The quill 202 may be adjustedlongitudinally in its sleeve by means of a feed screw 2%, threaded intothe quill bore 29!. The screw is journalled in and projects through aback plate 205 secured to the sleeve .203 and has a wheel 2% pinned toits projecting end. Adjusted position of the quill 282 may be maintainedby a locking device 261 which is identical with that described above inconnection with quill I15 of the work center.

. In order to permit the table 'l to be moved fully to the right handend of the bed, or the loading position of the machine, where the tailstock must pass between the cutter heads 2 and 25, the following meansshown in Figures 2. 14 and 15 are provided for spreading the cutterheads apart.

Welded to the top of the sleeve 2% is support 208 having a flat uppersurface on which is sl-idably mounted a flat plate 299. This pla e, asbest seen in Figure 2, has parallel longitudinal edges 2!!) whichconverge at their forward ends in a substantial 8 curve to provideopposed cam surfaces Hi. The plate 299 may be adjusted a certain amountlongitudinally of the tablethat is, in the direction of travel of thetable 1 and secured in adjusted position by a thumb nut 2l2 cooperatingwith a screw 2H3 secured into the support and extending through alongitudinal slot 2M in the plate. Longitudinal alignment of the plate2% is maintained by mea of a key 2l5 engaging longitudinal keyways 215and .2 l 1 respectively in the upper face the sup port and under face ofthe plate.

When the table is moved to its loading cosition the model follower rollscarried by the cutter heads ride over the cam surfaces 2 and onto thesides 210 of the plate 2529 and thereb move the cutter headssufficiently far apart to permit the tailstock to pass between thecutters (see Figure 3). The cam plate 2% may likewise, by adjustingforwardly, be utilized to auto matically move the cutters slightly awaythe work at the tip end of the work feed to permit indexing with thecutters out of engagement with the blade blank. This may be desirable inreducing the loads imposed on the pa ter when d n u ng formation of theblade 14 :faces adjacent the leading and trailing edges of the blade.

The indexing mechanism The blade blank or work W and the model orpattern P are respectively supported in parallel, superposed relation,between the chuck [68 .and center I84 and between the chuck 9'8 andcenter [9.8, respectively; and, as heretoforeset forth, are capable ofsynchronized rotation through the headstock gears H8, H9 and i251 Thisrotation may be effected either manually by means of the hand wheel M3or mechanically by the electric motor .149, the operation of which isautomatically controlled to index the work and pattern at the end ofeach feed stroke of the table as will now be described.

As stated above, .an indexing plate i5] is associated with the workspindle 85 for rotation therewith. This indexing plate is a circulardisc having a series of notches .213 spaced about its periphery. Thespacing of these notches will depend upon the amount of indexing or thedegree .of rotation desired for a particular operation. For instance, inmaking roughing outs on the work, the indexin will be in greater amountsand the indexin plate will have fewer notches than when finishing cutsare made. Also the spacing may vary at different regions of the plate,since rotation through greater angles between cuts on certain surfacesof the blade can be effected than between cuts on other surfaces of theblade. These plates may be easily and cheaply made and easilysubstituted one for .another on the machine, and preferably a series,

' having different spacing of the notches, is provided.

The indexing plate is, in effect, a cam, the notches Zls formed with .anangular face and an adjacent radial face which react, upon rotation ofthe plate, on a tooth or follower 21.9 on one end of a rocking1ever'22ll which .is pivoted on a stud 22! attached to a supportingangle bracket 222 secured to the table I. The opposite end of the lever22!) engages the button '223 of a single circuit push button switch 224,likewise secured to the support'222, and constituting a stop switch forthe motor M9. A spring loaded plunger 225, traveling vertically in aguide .226 carried by bracket 222, urges the fore end of the levertoward the indexing plate so that the follower 2'I9 constantly engagesthe notched periphery of the indexing plate. When the parts are in theposition shown in Figure 11, with follower tooth H9 at the bottom of anotch 218, the switch will be closed and will open when the followerrides up the angular face of a notch.

A two-circuit push button starting switch 22'! for the motor M9 islocated on the machine bed directly below the overhanging edge of thetable 1 as shown in Figures 2 and. 13. This switch has its operatingbutton 228 in the path of a pair of operating dogs 22!) and 236pivotally attached to the edge of the table '1. The location of the dog22!! which is at the headstock end of the table, is fixed while theother dog 233 is adapted to be adjustably positioned on the table withrespect to the dog 228 so that the distance therebetween will be thesame as that between the table reversing dogs 46 and 48.

The switch dogs 229 and 230 are short, pendulum swung bars freelymovable in one direction and having their movement blocked in theopposite direction by an abutment pin 23! as shown in Figure 13. Thelower end of each dog is cut at an angle to provide an inclined face 232for depressing momentarily the button of the switch 221 when each dogrides over the button as the table moves in one direction only. It willbe noted that the faces 232 of the dogs 229 and 239 are oppositelyinclined and also that their blocked movement is opposite. Thus, whenthe table moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 13 the dog 23!]will momentarily depress the switch button 228 when the inclined facemoves thereover near the end of the table stroke but the dog 239 willswing upwardly and ride over the switch button on the return stroke ofthe table. When the table reaches the end of its return movement, or tothe left, the switch will be actuated in the same manner by theoppositely swingable and inclined dog 229.

From the above description, it will be seen that as the table 1 nearsthe end of its travel in each direction the starting switch 221 will beactuated and start the indexing motor I49 which will operate until thetooth 2I9 of the switch lever 229 rides into the succeeding notch 2I8 ofthe indexing plate I51 at which time the stop switch 224 is actuated tobreak the motor circuit and stop the motor. The retarded movement of thetable at the end of its strokes provides ample time for the indexingoperation between succeeding cuts. During the cutting operations thework and pattern will be rigidly held against rotation rate indexing andreduce overrunning of the spindles when current to the motor is broken.For example, with an 1800 R. P. M. motor, a 30 to 1 ratio in thereduction gear I41 and an 80 to 1 reduction in the worm gear driveI28-I29 has been found to operate satisfactorily without supplementalbraking mechanism. However, where extreme precision in indexing isdesired, a suitable brake may be incorporated with the high speed sideof the drive, for instance, on the motor shaft or input shaft of thespeed reducer I41. Many types are available and well known and it is notthought necessary to illustrate one here. A solenoid actuated brake onthe motor shaft is very effective. Electric motors equipped withsolenoid brakes operable upon breaking the power circuit to the motorare commercially available and are suitable for use as motor I49.

The electric control for the indexing motor I49 is shown by theschematic wiring diagram in Figure 31. Leads 233, 234 and 235 for theindexing motor 549 are adapted to be respectively connected with a threephase current source through supply lines 231 and 238 by means of anormally open motor control relay 239 which has, in

addition to line contacts, a normally open, maintain contact 249. Thesupply lines 236, 231 and 238 are normally broken by a normallyopen linerelay 241 which is likewise provided with a. normally open maintaincontact 242. Connecting with the lines 235, 231 and 238 on the outputside of the relay 24l are branch lines 233a, 234a, and 235a which supplycurrent for the operation of the other machine inc-tors such as motorsfor operating the rotary cutters and hydraulic pump.

The winding 243 of the line relay 24I is adapted to be connected acrossthe supply line 236 and 233, on the input side of the relay, through atwo-point make, push button, starting switch 244 and a two-point break,push button, stop i6 switch 245, connected in series therewith, andconstituting a start-stop switch 248 for the machine. The maintaincontacts 242 for the relay E42 connected in parallel with the startswitch in series with the stop switch 245. Momentarily closing the startswitch 244 closes the contacts of the line relay MI by energizing thewinding 243 which is maintained energized through the contacts 242 andthe stop switch until the circuit is broken by opening the stop switch.Closing the relay 2M starts the pump motor and cutter motors and closesthe line to the indexing motor relay 239. 4

Operation of the relay 239 is effected by means of the indexing startswitch 221, the indexing stop switch 224, and three interlocked controlrelays 241, 248 and 249. The relay 241 has a winding 256, two normallyclosed contacts 25l and 252 and a normally open contact 253. The relay243 has a winding 254 and a single normally closed contact 255, whilethe relay 249 has a winding 253 and two normally open contacts 251 and253. One end of each of the windings 259, 254 and 255 is connected to acommon lead 259, a fuse and lead 268 to the power line 236. The oppositeend of the winding 259 is connected through a lead 26i to the contactpoint 262 of the indexing stop switch 224 whose contactor 25:3 isconnected by a lead 254, a fuse and lead 255 to the power line 238. Theleads 265 and 264 likewise connect the power line 233 with the confactor265 of the indexing start switch 221. The other end of the winding 254is connected with the power line 238 through a lead 281, contacts 252 ofthe relay 241, lead 268, maintain contacts 2 h] of the indexing motorrelay 239, and a line 269 which connects, through the fuse with the lead265. The other end of the winding 256 connects with the power line 239through a lead 210, contacts 253 of the relay 239, lead 211, contact 212of the indexing start switch 221, and contactor 265, to lead 264. Thelead 219 from the winding 256 also connects with the power line 238through a lead 213, contacts 255 of the relay 248, a lead 214, contacis258 of relay 249 and a lead 215, to the lead 264.

The winding 216 of the indexing motor relay 2 59 has one of its endsconnected with the power line 238 by a lead 211 which connects through afuse with the line 268. The opposite end of the winding 216 conneciswith the other power line 233 through a line 218 and thence through alead 219, contacts 25! of relay 241, a lead 280 to the second contact28I of the indexing start switch 221 and thence through its contactor266 to leads 264 and lead 255 to the power line 238. The second end ofwinding 216 is also connected through lead 218, a lead 282, contacts 251of relay 249, and a lead 288 which connects with the lead 268, andthence through maintain contacts 240 of motor relay 239 to the line 238.The maintain contacts 243 of the motor relay are connected in serieswith the contact 28I of the starting switch 221 through a lead 284 whichconnects the line 280 with the line 258.

Momentarily closing the starting switch 244- energizes the relay 24Iwhich closes and is main tained closed through maintain contacts 242 andstarts the hydraulic pump and cutter motors through lines 233a, 234a and235a and supplies energy for the indexing motor I49 and its controlcircuit through the lines 235, 231, and 238. Of course, separate controldevices may be included in lines 233a, 234a and 235a for independentcontrol of the devices supplied by power

